On 23–24 October, Vilnius hosted the meeting of Baltic and Nordic ombudsmen and chancellors of justice, as well as an international conference dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Lithuanian Ombudsman’s institution.
On the first day, discussions focused on how to ensure the effectiveness of independent ombuds institutions in a context where their responsibilities are constantly expanding. The Estonian Chancellor of Justice, for example, performs multiple roles, such as guardian of constitutionality and fundamental rights, children’s ombudsman, national preventive mechanism against ill-treatment, human rights promotion institution, and defender of the rights of persons with disabilities. Fulfilling these functions requires competent staff, effective organization of work, and sufficient resources. The debates also addressed cooperation with other institutions in handling complaints, as well as the situation in prisons and the practice of prison leasing.
The second day featured the international conference “The Role of Independent Control Institutions in Constitutional Framework”, where the focus was on the role of ombudsmen and chancellors of justice as guardians of constitutional balance and human rights. Among the speakers were representatives of constitutional courts of Lithuania and other countries, academics, and ombudsmen, who shared their experiences in safeguarding democratic values and the principles of good governance.
In the photo, the Estonian Chancellor of Justice is pictured together with colleagues from Lithuania, Finland, and Latvia.